The budget for Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown faces further cuts
in 2010, with increased patient waiting times and a reduction in essential services expected to follow.
Despite its central location in a
By Cathy Geagan
rapidly expanding urban area,
where it serves a population of
over 290,000 people, Connolly
has been beset with financial troubles in recent years. Previous cuts
led to a break-even plan that
intended to pull hospital services
back to 2006 levels, with bed
closures, the cancellation of surgery and employment freezes for care facilities, outpatient, diagnostic and support services.
student nurses.
Figures recently seen by Fine
Hospital management warned
Gael
TD for Dublin West, Dr Leo
that the measures would have
consequences for patient services, Varadkar, show that the budget
and indeed waiting lists for the will be cut from e103m to e90m
hospital increased by a massive in 2010 – representing a cut of
12.6%. The total proposed cuts
165 per cent in 2009 alone.
The teaching hospital provides will require another e7.5m in
acute medical, surgical and psy- savings on top of the e5.5m
chiatric services in its west Dublin, reflecting the pay cuts in the
Meath and Kildare catchment budget. For Dr Varadkar “these
area, as well as long-stay and day- cuts are savage and will impact on

hospital services and patient care.
It is too much, too quickly".
Many are fearful that the hospital will try to maximise private
patient care at the expense of public patients to address the financial shortfall.
The previous money-making
scheme of pay-and-display parking has caused controversy, as
combined with unpredictable
waiting times, patients can lose
their place in line as they need to
go top up the running meter.
The hospital is currently in
merger strategy consultation with
Beaumont, which local residents
fear could result in the loss of
vital services such as the 24 hour
emergency department.
Figures from the HSE early this
year showed that 8.3% of patients
are waiting longer than 28 days
for a colonoscopy in Ireland, with
Connolly Hospital having the
longest waiting time of all.

Head shops

e100 Off
with this Coupon for

April and May

Singing Steinman & Webber

Holding
court
Gerald Kean
Interview
Page 10

Win tickets to
Whistle Down
The Wind at the
Grand Canal
Theatre
Read our exclusive interview
with lead signer Jonathan
Ansell of G4 and enter our
email competition to win
tickets to the hit musical from
Jim Steinman and Andrew
Lloyd Webber.

SEE PAGE 12

Regulate
or Close?
Page 3

2

Q The month in Quotes

The Informer

The Drift

He is a Garret FitzGerald. He has trebled the national debt
and effectively destroyed the country. He should enjoy
writing boring articles in The Irish Times in a few years.
Fine Gael's Leo Varadkar accuses Brian Cowan of behaving
like a Fine Gael leader
The Dan Quayle of Fine Gael.
Brian on Leo
I also apologise to all those who feel I have let them down.
Looking back I am ashamed that I have not always upheld
the values that I profess and believe in.
Cardinal Sean Brady
He did not express any feelings of regret about what
happened in 1975, that anything had been done in error. I
do not get the impression he is thinking of stepping down.
Marie Collins of Irish Survivors of Child Abuse (SOCA)

Unfortunately, what I’ve done over the past years has been
just terrible to my family. It is the pain and the damage that
I’ve caused. Winning golf tournaments through all of this is
irrelevant compared to the damage I’ve caused.
Tiger Woods, as he prepares for another golf tournament

The Informer

Barometer
Who's Under Pressure?
H

GORDON BROWN: Gordon was always the
brains in the Tony/Gordon relationship while
poster-boy Tony got the votes. Now Gordon's
got to do it on his own.

LIMERICK PUBS: When the Good Friday ban
met the Limerick publicans, it was a turnover
ball, swung out wide, with the pace of the
winger leaving it under the posts - for a gimme.

H

SEAN Quinn: The man who came from
nowhere to lead Irish industry managed to
escape the recession (Anglo included) until now.
Will test the strength of the Quinn empire.

Barack Obama: Yes he could. US right
wingers have a canary as Euro style health care
forces them to kill their grannies, eat their dogs
and pull compulsory moonies. Or something.

H

L

L

The UNIONS: The new pay deal began to
unravel almost as soon as it was made. The
union leadership is now much more moderate
than its membership.

Campaign Dublin Dublin Rape Crisis Centre
Supporting the victims of sexual crime
The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC)
was set up 30 years ago to respond to the
needs of victims of childhood sexual abuse
and victims of recent rape and sexual
assault.
The founders of the organisation set up a
Helpline 1800 77 88 88. In its first year the
helpline received 79 calls. In the DRCC’s
2008 Annual Report, the National 24 Hour
Helpline 1800 77 88 88 received over
10,000 genuine counselling calls. After the
publication of the Ryan Report in May 2009
and the Murphy Report in November 2009,
the numbers calling the Helpline soared.
Justice

The crime of rape is the second most serious crime on our statute books. It is a very
serious crime to be accused of and it is
imperative that we have fair and just laws
and a justice system that delivers for both
the accused and the complainant.
However the system is not victim friendly
enough. A lot has been done to address
some of the imbalances that developed in
this particular area of law, a lot more needs

Dublin
by
Numbers

to be done to encourage the victims of these
heinous crimes to stay the course from
reporting to getting a verdict. We encourage
victims to report the crime but it is not a
requirement for victims to receive the support and help that is available for them at
the DRCC.
In denial

In 1979 Irish society on the whole would
have denied the fact that children were the
victims of rape and sexual abuse. If a
woman was a victim of rape in some way
she was ‘asking for it’ and there was no
such thing as male rape.
The horrendous stories that everyone in
Ireland has heard over the past year since
the publication of the Ryan and the Murphy
reports, are the stories that are very familiar
to those working in the DRCC. The increase
in the volumes of people availing of the
services of the centre over 30 years from 79
to 10,000 is indicative of the extent of this
problem in our Irish Society.
Over the 30 years, the victims, both
women and men, have been coming to the

15,308

Centre, calling the 24 hour National
Helpline in the knowledge that they will be
believed. They are availing of the counselling services and over time are able to get
on with their lives without having to spend
enormous energy on ‘keeping the secret’,
and with a new and strengthened awareness
and knowing, that they did nothing wrong.
The DRCC as well as offering counselling and support, also has an Education and
Training Department and a Volunteer
Services Department which supports the
running of the 24 hour helpline, accompanies people to court and to the Sexual
Assault Treatment Unit in the Rotunda. It
also has a free legal information clinic.
Support welcome

The Centre is part funded by the HSE but
it needs to fundraise to bridge the huge gap
between what it gets from the HSE and
what it takes to continue to run the services.
All support is welcome. For all information
call 1 800 77 88 88.
Ellen O’Malley-Dunlop, CEO, DRCC
www.drcc.ie
This is the decrease in the number
of cars sold in Dublin in the first three
months of the year between 2008 and
2010.
In 2008 there were 29,296 Passenger Vehicle Registrations in Dublin and
this year it was down to 13,989. This
was actually an increase on 2009 when
just 10,501 cars sold in the first three
months.

The Informer

3

Dialogue & Debate

Head
shops

Regulate
or
close?

regulate

The use of mind altering substances is not recommended
but that does not mean that since time immemorial, humans
have been intoxicating themselves for pleasure. It has long
been obvious that the 'War on Drugs' is lost worldwide and
the consequences have encouraged a world wide explosion
of organised violent criminality to exploit the drugs black
market.
In response many countries have legalised the possession
of small amounts of drugs for personal use, the last one
being Mexico last autumn. I agree with this attitude and
have said so in public for more than 20 years. But of course
'drugs' are a great vote getter for the most vociferous politicians who talk up the biggest scare stories.
I prefer the more thought out response of people like Tony
Geoghegan of the Merchants Quay project. The drugs task
forces in local areas should be a priority for funding even in
this recession because heroin abuse is, in the main, a low-

Close
It is safe to say that up until 12 months ago many parents did not
know what a Head Shop was, let alone the type of products they
were selling. It was only until a number of high profile cases
involving teenagers (as young as 13) being admitted to hospitals
across Ireland, that they suddenly realised the impact that these
shops were having. This is despite claims by Head Shops that under
18’s are not permitted to buy products. Since 2008, there has been
a 40% rise in the number of Head Shops opening across Ireland.
I am aware of an area in Dún Laoghaire where there has been a
100% increase in anti-social behaviour and where Gardaí have had
to deploy a specific 24 hour, 7 day a week patrol to curb these
problems. In the last two months, seven teenagers have been issued
with Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBO’s) to try and combat the
on-going problems. Many of these teenagers are using products
bought in Head Shops which are the root cause of the problem.
Having listened to the debate from some quarters of the Dáil who
are calling for these products to be “regulated” in the interest of
public good, I am not convinced. These shops, by their very nature
skirt the law at every given chance; the proof is what they are doing
across Europe. If these shops were “regulated / legalised” not only
would the State would be complicit in quality assuring these products but these shops would invariably concoct another product line
in order to push the envelope of “legal highs”. It is true to say that
since Head Shops have opened on main streets of our towns and
villages, the temptation and possibility of experimenting with these
products has become easier for teenagers.
Wording on some of the packages on sale here reads as follows;
“We make no health claims and take no responsibility for the consequences of their use” or “Not for human consumption. Sold for
botanical or horticultural or herbarium specimen only”. How could
one regulate this? If they are not fit for human consumption, they
should not be sold to people. Mephedrone (AKA “Meow-Meow”)
which was on sale here in Ireland up until January 2009 has since
been “removed” as it was responsible for 27 reported deaths in
England.
The global problem of Head Shops was recognised at a European
level on the 10th May, 2005 at the Council of Ministers when they
agreed on the “exchange of information, risk-assessment and control of new psychoactive substances” being sold across the continent. Since then several countries around the world including
Australia, Finland, Germany, Austria, France, Poland, Sweden,
Luxembourg, Lithuania, Estonia, Romania and the United Kingdom
have brought in legislation banning the sale (not regulating) certain
products. I believe Ireland needs to adopt this course of action.
Health Minister, Mary Harney TD has stated that it will take the
Government three months to ban certain substances due to EU
legislation. However I am informed that there might be a quicker,
more efficient method. In light of this new information, I have written to An Taoiseach Brian Cowen and other relevant Government
Ministers asking them to investigate it with a view to banning these
shops and their products from the Irish market altogether.
Cormac Devlin is a Fianna Fail councillor
on Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council

income area addiction funded by the proceeds of crime.
My view is that drug use is a balance between adult
autonomy and societal risk. The state does not always know
best. Medicine is about harm reduction. I am not certain
what is the chemistry and pharmacology of the various
compounds sold in 100 plus head shops in Ireland right now.
Nobody is. When BZP is banned, it is simply going to
appear in the black market and be mixed with whatever. It
appears to be a relatively safe compound with 26 milllion
BZP pills sold in New Zealand without fatality. When the
government there banned the drug, it was classified as Class
D, a low risk.
Head Shops should be regulated by planning laws, by
consumer legislation, health and safety regulations and by
the Irish Medicines Board under the laws of the state. An
obvious issue is the claim that many of the products advertised by head shops are not for human consumption.
That get-out is farcical. The Misuse of Drugs Act in
Ireland allows the banning of generic chemical derivatives
of drugs which is the way to deal with the synthetic chemical industry.

Chief Superintendent Pat Leahy reportedly has informed
head shops that they could be charged with reckless endangerment "if there is any fatality or serious injury arising
from their business". Where does this begin and end?
Logically, all off-licences and corner shops selling alcohol
and cigarettes are a similar risk. Alcohol can result in panic,
paranoia, delirium and psychosis. Scaremongering, I would
say.
My conclusion is that is that head shops should not be
banned. They should be subjected to the normal planning
laws to restrict opening hours and to make sure that home
deliveries are made illegal. Consumers must be presented
with package information on the contents of any substances
sold with likely effects listed including toxic reactions.
Possession of small amounts or recreational drugs should be
decriminalised as in Mexico. It is clear that a large cohort of
the younger generation are only a urine screen away from
being criminalised.
Dr Bill Tormey is a Fine Gael City Councillor
and a specialist in Chemical Pathology

4

Green Scene

Do you know this seal?
A young grey seal has been found in Skerries and brought
to the Irish Seal Sanctuary suffering from starvation. The
strange thing about this animal is the tag on its flipper which
asks the finder to call London Zoo. When contacted London
Zoo knew nothing about it.
This is hardly surprising since the style of tag is not suited
to a seal and has caused difficult to the animal in swimming
which may have resulted in its present starved condition. It
had to be removed at the ISS to allow the flipper to heal.
The volunteers at the Irish Seal Sanctuary have send out
a call to all the rehab facilities in the UK and Europe to try
to find out where the seal, which they have named Mighty,
originally came from.

Nature Box
Don’t stop feeding the birds! Nature
Box has its origins in
As the first swallows stagger back to their nest sites and chide us
for not keeping them in better order (ever been spoken to by a
swallow whose nest has fallen down over winter?) we need to
remember just how serious an impact the winter that is, we
hope, finally passing has had on our bird life.
Many small birds are down in numbers by 20% or more according to Birdwatch Ireland, and insect numbers are likely to have
been similarly hard hit so there won’t be as many as usual waiting for immigrants like the swallows and the various warblers.
If you’ve been feeding birds over the winter don’t stop now –
keep those feeders full and you will be rewarded as the blue tits
go after the aphids on your newly planted lettuces.
Just remember to keep feeders clean – there are already babies
in some of the nests and dirty food can be as bad for them as it
would be for a human child.

the collections of shells that
Dr Catherine O’Connell
used to make on childhood
holidays in Connemara.
Her book looks at at several Irish Habitats including
bogs, woods, meadows, rivers and sea shores and makes
suggestions for projects
children can take part in.
It has 200 beautiful photographs of Irish scenery,
plants and animals, making
a great gift in 2010, the Year
of Biodiversity.

The Informer

Good money being thrown after bad

By Kathy Marsh, Sonairte
We are tired of hearing that although everyone else public awareness of environmental matters in
is having to manage on less money and our children Member States and ensure increased transparency.
will be up to their eyes in debt paying off NAMA the The measures have been transposed into Irish legisbankers are still getting their bonuses. Another lation, but the current financial obstacles have led
group that don’t seem to losing out in recession the Commission to conclude that the laws covering
stricken Ireland, unless they are in conveyancing, this area of the Directive have not been fully transare the lawyers. Particularly the environmental law- posed and are not being properly applied in practice.
yers.
Ireland is also still holding off from signing up to the
Last month the European Commssion issued yet Aarhus Treaty which has similar requirements – we
another warning to the Irish government about a are the last western European nation not to have
breach of environmental legislation. This time it was signed
about the unfair cost of challenging decisions. The
The consequences
new Environment Commissioner, Janez Potočnik of
This
is
only
one
of a whole raft of European enviRomania said: "When important decisions affecting
ronmental
legislation
where Ireland is in breach, and
the environment are taken, the public must be
allowed to challenge them. This important principle all of them can lead to expensive fines if we don’t
is established in European law. But the law also get our act together.
Attempts to find out just how much the governrequires that these challenges must be affordable.”
ment
is spending on lawyers to slow down the
Under European law, citizens have a right to know
about the impact of industrial pollution, and about implementation process have failed because they
the potential impact projects may have on the envi- don’t add up the price of using in house lawyers and
ronment, and a right to challenge decisions. The law even spending on hired guns is not itemized in a way
explicitly states that such challenges must not be that allows us to tease out just where the money is
prohibitively expensive but the Commission says going. So first they spend money avoiding fines and
that in Ireland the potential financial consequences then they pay the fines anyway. Does this sound
of losing a case is preventing NGOs and individuals familiar?
When the rest of us are working out how to spend
from taking public bodies to court.
Several pieces of environmental legislation, our reduced incomes I think we know when to patch
including the Environmental Impact Assessment the leaky roof and when putting a new roof on is the
(EIA) Directive and the integrated pollution preven- best long term investment – time the government
tion and control (IPPC) Directive, aim to boost learned the same thing.

6

Personal Finance

The Informer
By Andrew Russell

Starting to
plan your
savings
Different needs for the short,
medium and long terms
The ability to save money is one of the cornerstones of building
wealth. In order to save we must of course be spending less than we
earn, which can in itself be a challenge for many families at the
moment. However if you are in a position to save then ideally you
should have in mind plans for the short, medium and long term.
Short term rainy day fund

This is probably the most important savings goal as it is an emergency fund to dip into in unforeseen circumstances. You should aim
to have between three and six months net salary in an instant access
savings account such as Irish Nationwide which pays 3.25% before
DIRT tax. You should review rates on these types of accounts on a
regular basis as they can change at any time.
Medium term savings account

This should be a minimum five year plan and reasons for having
such a plan vary from saving for your children or grandchildren’s
education, to buying a new car or a dream holiday.
Options for this type of plan could be An Post's 5.5 year account
which pays 3.53% DIRT free, or you may consider a unit-linked
account which invests in stocks, bonds etc. There are numerous funds
on offer with varying degrees of risk and more recently with guarantees in place.
For example, Aviva have recently introduced the Regular Saver
plan with a range of over 30 funds that allows you to withdraw part or
all of your savings at any stage after the first year. Everyone who
starts a Regular Saver before 31 May 2010 will receive a family
ticket admitting four people to the special ‘Opening Day’ at the new
Aviva Stadium in June 2010. For more information on this plan and
offer please contact Squaremile on 087 287 5256.
Planning for retirement

With the contributory state pension providing just e230.30 per
week you may want to start a long term savings plan to provide you
with an additional income when you retire.
The major benefit of pension planning is that contributions are eligible for tax relief at your highest rate of tax and also PRSI relief. A
contribution of €100 to a pension plan could cost a higher rate tax
payer as little as €51, saving €49 in tax and PRSI.
The retirement fund that you build is designed to provide you with
a tax free lump sum and regular income in retirement. There are many
issues to take into account when pension planning so it is crucial that
you consult with a qualified financial adviser such as Squaremile to
go through your options and to help you make the right decision.
Saving doesn’t sound very exciting and can be tough to start, but
always keep in mind the pleasure you will get when you reach your
goal and have peace of mind or the freedom to spend your hard earned
cash.
Andrew Russell is a Qualified Financial Adviser and Managing
Director of Squaremile Financial Consultants Ltd. He provides
financial advice to private sector employees and the self employed. In
addition to this he specialises in assisting public sector employees
improve their retirement benefits.
Contact:
Andrew Russell, Managing Director, Squaremile Financial Consultants.
T: 087 287 5256 • E: andrew@squaremile.ie • W: www.squaremile.ie

The Informer

7

Garden Growing

Back to the growing season
The dreaded slugs and snails are on
the march and multiplying as you read
this so keep using whatever method you
use to get rid of them. There is nothing
as disappointing as losing something to
a slug that has taken a long time to germinate and grow.

Easter has always been the traditional time of year when most folks
decide to do something with their gardens and consequently now is the busiest time for garden centres and nurseries. As the growth becomes more abundant the amount of work to be done also
increases. The longer evenings are great
now that the clocks have gone forward!

Lawns again

The window box

If you planted window boxes and
containers last autumn with spring
bulbs, now is the time to replace the old
bulbs with summer bedding plants. The
old bulbs can be taken from the containers or window boxes with a little compost on the roots and placed in a dark,
dry shed or garage until next autumn.
Remember to label the old bulbs so that
come next October you will know what
they are.
Don’t forget to renew the compost as
it’s not recommended to use compost
twice. Always clean out the containers
and it’s a must to use some drainage.
Most people use pebble or broken clay
pots which makes the containers or window boxes quite heavy. The best material to use for drainage is small bits of

l Vegetable beds are starting to take shape but watch for April frosts
broken up polystyrene which weigh
nothing.
Mind your veg

My small vegetable bed is finally
starting to take shape. I managed to
plant my early potatoes 'Orla’s' on the
4th of April, much later than last year
owing to the awful cold weather. The
lettuces are still germinating indoors as
I’m wary to put them in the ground for a
few more weeks as April can have a
sting in its tail with late frosts, so be
careful.
The peas and runner beans will stay in

the opened cold frame for the next few
weeks.
All the herbs are doing really well as
most of them tend to be hardy. There are
exceptions like coriander and basil
which really need a greenhouse but they
will survive under cloches if well looked
after.
Beware the weeds

Weeds are starting to appear everywhere, so get to it folks, before they
start to grow and become a problem. As
I said before, a few minutes every week
will keep them at bay.

Your lawn needs a good feed and you
will already have started to mow the
grass. Use the highest setting on the
mower to start with. If you haven’t
sharpened the blades do it now as you
will do damage to the grass if the blades
are blunt.
Finally, when you are mooching about
discovering what’s happening in the
garden, go gently as it’s easy to damage
small shoots that have appeared which
you have yet to see. I managed to knock
the tops off some asparagus as they
were covered by some leaf mould.
Here’s to a long hot summer with
abundant growth.
Tip of the Month:
Seaweed extract, cheap and available
from all garden centres is excellent
for root formation.

With

Gerry Norton
Finally folks, if you need any information on gardening or if you have any tips
or suggestions which I can pass on,
please send them to me at livinglandescapes@eircom.net.
I would be delighted to quote for any/
all of your garden requirements from
set-up organic vegetable plots to restoration of neglected gardens, design, planting and maintenance. No charge for initial visit and I will travel within reason.

Most new parents expect to experience broken sleep
for the first few weeks or months of their new babies’
lives, and can vouch for the fact that not getting a
decent night’s sleep can make them irritable, not able
to function properly and unable to be a relaxed parent.
After all, sleep deprivation has been used as torture!
If sleep, or the lack of it, because of your little
angel’s night-time activities has become a problem for
you, then we’d recommend Tizzie Hall’s new book
Save Our Sleep. Tizzie, who was born and bred in
Ireland, gained quite a reputation as a child when she
was able to interpret the cries of babies, and became
popular with neighbours who would call her when

The Informer

they couldn’t comfort their crying babies.
Despite moving to England and now living in
Australia, Tizzie has never lost the knack and
found that wherever she lives there are parents
who need her expertise. Save Our Sleep, Helping
your baby sleep through the night, from birth to
two years is full of fascinating case histories of
babies and parents she was able to help, and
advice on sleep routines and how to overcome
problems that can affect a baby’s sleep such as
reflux, constipation and teething.
Save Our Sleep by Tizzie Hall
is published by Vermilion at £9.99stg.

Pocket money rules
Starting the pocket money habit when your child is young,
even if it’s not very much, will help them to take responsibility for
how they spend it, and you can give them gentle guidance on the
choices available to them such as buying something small now, or
saving up for a toy they really want. It might be wise to discourage
them from buying too many sweets, but if you give your child
pocket money and then tell them exactly what they should spend
it on, you are actually defeating the object of giving it in the first
place.
Irish financial expert John Lowe, author of The Money Doctor
Finance Annual 2010 (Gill & Macmillan), says that even young
children are aware of money issues in the home, and it’s best to
openly discuss money issues with them from when you think they
can understand. “Kids will pick up on the spending habits of their
parents, and your emotions around money will colour their relationship with it as they grow up,” he says.
Starting age

So at what age should you introduce the pocket money habit?
Roni Jay author of The 10 Most Important Things You Can Do For
Your Children (Prentice Hall Life) says “Personally I’d suggest as
late as you can get away with it, which is probably around three to
five, depending on other children around them.”
Deciding on how much pocket money to give your child will
depend on your circumstances and what you think is reasonable.
It’s important to tell your child that they will receive x amount on
a particular day and stick to that. Supplementing pocket money on
a regular basis doesn’t help them to learn that once they have spent
it they won’t get any more until the same day next week.
Money for nothing?

So should you ask your child to perform chores around the house
in return for money? “Once they reach school age it’s fair to make
part of it in return for chores,” says Roni Jay, “however some of it
should be automatic.”
John Lowe says that saving is an important money skill. “I
would suggest that if you give a primary school child 5 euro, you
can introduce the idea of saving say two euro and putting it in a jar,
a post office or credit union account. Then the child can see that
the money adds up and something bigger can be bought for a
birthday or Christmas.”

Don't tell them
they're great!
According to award-winning journalists and parents Po
Bronson and Ashley Merryman our habit of telling our children they are smart is in fact undermining their confidence.
After three years of investigation they found that a hodgepodge of wishful thinking, moralistic biases, contagious fads
and old (disproven) psychology has created a bedrock of
parenting strategies that can no longer be relied upon, and
that modern parents have mistaken good intentions for good
ideas – which means that our current methods for nurturing
our children and adolescents are in fact wrong.
The result of their work can be read in Nurtureshock, why
everything we think about raising our children is wrong, a
combination of behavioural psychology and neuroscience that
forces us to rethink many sacred cows, including the idea that
children are naturally blind to racial constructs, the notion
that television is making children fat, the presumption that it’s
necessarily a good sign if a child can say “no” to peer pressure
and the idea that being an only child deprives kids of good
social skills.
With chapters devoted to subjects including confidence,
intelligence, sibling conflict and teen rebellion, Nurtureshock
is an anti-advice book which provides an entirely fresh perspective to how we bring up our young.
Nurtureshock is published by Ebury Press at £12.99st.

Many people having paid for a private hearing aid find that although
their lives have improved for the better they are not happy with the
overall performance of the instruments and their expectations have not
been realised. There could be several explanations for this.
Alan Mantell, managing director of Digital Hearing Direct says: “Quality digital hearing aids are incredibly good and can change to suit the
patients needs and lifestyle.
“Often an inexpensive instrument correctly fitted will do the job. Because we are totally independent of any manufacturer our staff are
trained to program most makes of hearing aids.
“We are equipped with some of the world's latest technology which
allows us to be very accurate on the fitting and fine tuning on the necessary follow up home visits.
“It is time consuming but makes for a very high satisfaction rate and
an extremely happy client. Also if we do not get it right we refund all
money in full.”
As Rosalind Squires RHAD, FISHAA, FISHAA, our senior hearing
aid audiologist often says: “Where you buy your hearing aid is as important as the price you pay. We get it right”.

•
•
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•

Free
Special 2 for 1 offers now available for April Home
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Allowance on your old aids (any condition)
Extended manufacturer's warranty free of charge
Ongoing service and routine maintenance

good enough, for unions to argue that people should not be
made redundant when the ultimate cost is the patient.
We have lost sight of our principles in this area and fundamental changes are required.

What got you interested in law?
I became interested in law because of my uncles. My
mother, Patricia Hamilton Kean (RIP) had three brothers in
the legal profession. Her eldest brother Judge Liam
Hamilton (RIP) was the President of the High Court and
ultimately the Chief Justice of Ireland.
The next brother was David Hamilton and he practised as
a Senior Counsel in Dublin and finally Donal Hamilton
(RIP) was a well known solicitor in Dublin.
First case you worked on as qualified solicitor?
I remember one of my early cases involved an appearance
in the District Family Law Court where I was acting for an
elderly gentleman (in his late seventies) and whose wife
had left him after forty five years of marriage. His wife was
claiming maintenance.
The Judge, at the end of the case, asked my client, who
didn’t seem to understand what was happening, how much
he earned a week.
My client responded: “sixty pounds”. The Judge retorted:
“well I am going to give your wife thirty pounds a week –
what have you got to say about that?”
My client responded: “That’s very decent of you and I
will try and give her a few pounds myself!!!”
What made you decide to concentrate on your solicitor
practice opposed to remaining as a practising barrister?
I never practiced as a barrister. I like meeting people and in
particular new clients. For this reason, I always wanted to
practice as a Solicitor.
Do you think we have too many laws in this country?
No, I think the difficulty in this country is trying to ensure
the proper enforcement of the laws in existence.
What is the stupidest law you think we have in this
country?
Any laws which we don’t enforce!
I have had the pleasure of walking on Sandymount Beach
for many years. There are signs explaining the possibility of
fines been imposed on dog owners who do not clean up
should their dogs use the beaches or surrounding areas as a
'toilet facility'.
I have never seen anybody fined despite breaches of the
law/regulation every time I go for a walk.
If you were not a solicitor what would you think you
would be working at now?
Radio or TV presenter.
Do you think the Government are doing a good job?
No, I think that some individuals in the Government are
doing better than others.
However, I am not confident the Government, nor in fact
the opposition parties, have necessarily got the resolve,
strength of character, creativity, innovation and/or determination to deal with the problems that we face.
What are your pet hates?
Insincerity
Do you think Ireland is turning into a police state?
No
Did you ever consider a career in politics, explain?
No, despite the fact that I have been approached by a
number of parties.

Your biggest regret in life?
Having spent many great years with my parents, I am sorry
that I lost them so young!
Best achievement in life
The relationship I enjoyed and the time I spent with my
parents Gerald and Patricia, the relationship I am presently
enjoying and the time I am spending with my beautiful
daughter Kirsten and my gorgeous girlfriend Lisa.
Funniest thing that ever happened to you in court
In the District Court, many years ago, the Judge in question
always insisted that people in the court bowed as he
entered.
On one occasion everybody did so except one young
gentleman standing in the middle of the court, chewing
gum loudly with his hands in his pocket.
This young man refused to bow and the Judge turned to
the sergeant and said: “tell that young man to stop masticating in my Court”.
The sergeant went down and hit the young fellow on the
side of his shoulder and said: “Take your bloody hands out
of your pocket!!”.
I certainly found this hilarious at the time and still enjoy
telling the story.
If you were taoiseach, what three things would you
change to try and get the Country back on its feet again,
explain?
(a) I would hand control of the health service back to the
Department of Health. I believe we are spending over forty
cent in every euro in administration in this country. The
equivalent in the United Kingdom is seven cent in every
euro and in Florida is six cent in every euro.
It is totally unacceptable, in this day and age, to have a
woman of over seventy years of age waiting thirty hours for
treatment in a public ward of an A & E department in a
Dublin hospital. Delays are not acceptable.
It is not good enough to continue to employ people, who
are bureaucrats and pen pushers in a health system at the
expense of financing frontline workers and properly dealing with patients.
We are spending fifteen billion yes billion euros a year in
health in this Country. The wastage is criminal. It is just not

Kevin O'Brien
talked to
Gerald Kean
about his life in
the law business,
his personal life
and his views on
the country and
the economy

"It is not good
enough to
continue to
employ people,
who are
bureaucrats and
pen pushers in a
health system at
the expense of
financing
frontline workers

(b) We need a national recovery bank. I am at a loss to
understand why we are spending billions on saving the
Anglo Irish Bank.
A national recovery bank would fund small to medium
term businesses around the country. Basically, the bank
would employ no more then eight people and can be set up
within six months. All small businesses, would go to their
normal bank, looking for funding. I have no doubt they
would be refused and thereafter they would request an
application be made to a National Recovery Bank.
Small loans between €5,000 and €50,000 would greatly
enhance and help small and medium businesses. They in
turn will be given a chance to thrive.
Seven years ago, I was asked by a bank for advice in relation to a seventy five million euro loan to two property
developers. The loan was being lent on a site without planning permission and no development finance was even in
place at the time.
I suggested that instead of lending this sum of money to
two individuals, would it not be better to spread the risk out
amongst many small to medium businesses around the
country?
The answer was that 'from an administration point of
view it would not be as profitable'. This is just not acceptable.
We need to 'kick start' the economy. This will not be done
by supporting a bank like Anglo Irish. I do not accept, that
the collapse of Anglo Irish would bring down the Irish
economy.
These arguments were used with similar banks in the
United States of America and in Britain (and subsequently
proved incorrect).
(c) In order to help people who are unemployed I would
certainly like to see a scheme introduced whereby the government paid the social welfare to employers who took
these people off the unemployment register.
The employers would then be obliged, only to make up
the difference, between the social welfare and the minimum
wage. Obviously conditions have to be attached.
There is nothing more disheartening than unemployment.
Payment of social welfare to potential employers is an idea
that I have always favoured.
If you were to give any words of advice to small to
medium sized businesses out there who are struggling in
the current economic climate what would they be?
Don’t ever forget the importance of human relationships. I
have built up a very large accident claims practice in this
Country by communication with people. This means shaking hands properly, greeting them properly and looking
them in their eyes. Communication is vital.
I believe, that during the Celtic Tiger, and with the
advent of technology, the art of interpersonal relationship
has suffered. Many of my friends are often shocked and
surprised when I tell them that I cannot 'google' or do an
internet search. There is nothing better than 'word of
mouth'. We are taking in up to 100 new clients a week into
the office and this is all by word of mouth.
Businesses can thrive in a recession. Rents are lower, hiring staff is easier, cost of production is cheaper etc.
Never be disheartened. Always look creatively and differently than others to the problem. Never underestimate
interpersonal relationships and skills. I would start with
family and close friends.

12

Informer Competition

Win Tickets

Where were you born?
In Carahalton, Surrey

to the Irish Premiere of
Andrew Lloyd Webber & Jim Steinman’s
Whistle Down The Wind
Starring Jonathan Ansell of G4
The Informer Newspaper Group have teamed up with our friends
in Dublin’s newest entertainment theatre Grand Canal Theatre to
give one of our lucky readers the chance to attend the opening
night of Bill Kenwright’s production of Andrew Lloyd Webber &
Jim Steinman’s Whistle Down The Wind when it premieres here
in Ireland on 11th May and runs until 22nd May 2010.
Lead cast member Jonathon Ansell who won the heart of the
British nation as lead vocalist in X-Factor runners-up G4, has been
cast in his musical debut, starring in Bill Kenwright’s production
of Jim Steinman and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s WHISTLE DOWN
THE WIND. The hit musical plays the Grand Canal Theatre, Dublin
from 11th to 22nd May 2010.
An extraordinary and uplifting tale, Whistle Down the Wind is
based on the beloved sixties film starring Hayley Mills and Alan
Bates, and features numerous multi-award-winning songs, including Boyzone’s international smash hit No Matter What (which
topped the UK charts for 6 weeks).
The musical shows how powerful love can be when the inno-

The Informer

Fondest childhood memory?
Eurocamp Holidays in France with
my family. But also playing lead in
primary school production of Joseph.
What got you interested in music?
My mums limited collection of CDs.
Including, Pavarotti, three tenors,
Micheal Ball, Andrew Lloyd Webber
compilations and John Denver

Whistle Down
The Wind star
Jonathan Ansell
chats to
Kevin O'Brien

Can you remember the first song you ever performed in front
of an audience?
Vividly, it was Panis Angelicus. With the West Sussex Boys Choir.
In Arundel cathedral. I was 10 I think. The audience would not
stop applauding at the end. That definitely affirmed my love of
singing.

cence of childhood collides with the cynicism of the adult world.
In a stunning combination of multi-award-winning songs, Whistle
Down the Wind is a record breaking theatrical sensation that is
both mesmerising and moving.

How To
Enter
All you have to
do to be in with a
chance of winning
these amazing
tickets is answer this
simple question:

What band was
Jonathon Ansell
part of on the
X-Factor?
(A) Boyzone
(B) Blue
(C) G4
E-mail the correct
answer along with
your name and contact
telephone number to:

whistle@informer.ie
One entry per person and
all entrance MUST be over
16 years and available to
attend the opening night on
the 11th May 2010. Smart
dress required. Tickets are not
transferable. Closing date for
entry is 5th May 2010. The
judge’s decision is final.

How did G4 come about?
We were all at Guildhall school doing music and drama. We
wanted the chance to do more gigs through college agent. So set
up a barbershop quartet. The group soon evolved beyond the
standard repertoire. 6 months later we were on X factor.
How did you get on with Simon Cowell during your time on
X-Factor? Honestly ...
Honestly he was so lovely to us. On TV he was not the nicest, he
wasn't very warm to us. But off stage he was so supportive. Even
sending us a magnum of champagne each when we got our first
No.1 album.
In your opinion how could they improve X-Factor?
They need to stop focusing on the background of contestants and
more on their talents. I think loads of potential contestants are
missed due to a lack of interesting back stories. Also retain focus
more on the contestants than the panel.
How did you get the part in Whistle Down the Wind?
I spoke to my manager and said I would love to be in a musical.
He came back to me the next day and said that Whistle Down The
Wind was about to tour the UK. Bill Kenwright was interested in
meeting me to potentially play the lead. I went for a meeting with
him and he offered me the role straight away.
Most embarrassing moment in your life?
I would have to say that it was when I realised my fly was undone
onstage with G4, during a performance of Jerusalem. I have
repeated this a few more times since to similar embarrassment.
What type of music do you listen to on your iPod?
Every style of music is on my iPod. From R&B, soul, pop, rock
and classical.
If you were not in the entertainment business what career path
would you have taken?
I would have tried to become a chef. I love cooking and would
love to run a restaurant.
Who is the most famous person you have met to date?
The most famous would have to be Brian May. But obviously
Simon Cowell!
Have you been to Ireland before?
Yes and I love it. Dublin is such a vibrant place. There is always a
buzz there and the loveliest people. I can't wait to spend two weeks
there in May as I normally fly in and out after a day.
Name three things you would take with you if you were to
spend a month alone on a desert island.
Lighter, knife. Picture of Debbie, my wife.
If you could choose to have lunch with any three people (past
or present) who would they be, and why?
Elton John, The Queen and Freddie Mercury.

14

Health & Beauty

Your skin does not have
the same age as you!
Skin aging results from a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Intrinsic aging is a natural process determined by chronological
and genetic factors. Extrinsic skin aging on the other hand results
from influences of the external environment. Exposure to sunlight,
pollution, stress, insomnia to name but a few.
The rapidity and intensity of skin aging largely depends on factors
in the external environment and behavioral habits.

Excessive exposure to sunlight is a major aggressor to the skin. It
is the number one factor in accelerated skin aging. UVA penetrates the
skin deeply right down to the dermis causing damage to collagen and
elastin fibers resulting in dryness, lines and wrinkles.
Smoking is another important factor. It causes the formation of free
radicals in the skin, which make the skin look dull, blotchy and grey.
Smokers should consume more anti oxidants (a diet rich in fruit and

even in the case of
predetermined sentences.
is only to hold
life sentences, the practice
By Niall Gormley
ses have highlighted the
years. The problem
people for a number of
defend people from seriliberty to
to carry out further offences.
is that people are given
of previous con- with this
The cases raise fundaGerald Barry had a litany
in the killing offend again.
ut the justice system and
he served
victions including involvement
In the case of Simon McGinley, he was
in 1996, the blindseriously disturbed, lifeof Colm Phelan in Galway
for the 'C' case rape and
a robbery and a seven years
s.
treatment for sex
ing of a pensioner during
supposed to have received
rs, Gerald Barry, Simon
his
his original offence
sexual assault on his ex-partner.
in of the offending in prison.
The
l Cawley have recently
a drink and drugs binge.
Simon McGinley was convicted
case and occurred during
'C'
the
in
some of the most serious
girl
drink and drugs
rape of a 13-year-old
latest offence occurred during
of the
cent times.
jail.
sentenced to 12 years in
it not make sense that one
convictions for binge. Would
never
erving three life sentences
Noel Cawley had previous
his freedom is that he can
for
rape
conditions
the
and
and
damage
anuela reido
Wouldn't such
theft, burglary, larceny, malicious
take drink and drugs again?
dent in Galway. Simon
say, a blood test
attempted rape.
violent monitoring be legitimate,
tenced to 21 years for the
the debate in Ireland about
of
Much
week?
-old woman in July. Noel
has been characterised every
reform
reform Trust,
of crime and sentencing
According to the Irish Prison
in jail
are 'hard' or 'soft' on
cted of the manslaughter
as between those who
e100,000
e100,000 to keep a prisoner
imprisimpris
ty hanley and was sen- crime. Tony Blair's famous formula 'hard on it costs
were
people
276
In 2008,
of crime' was an each year.
also in July.
of a civil
crime and hard on the causes
in relation to the non-payment
mes involved horrific vio- attempt to bridge the gap between those who oned
violent offenders are
in
debt. Meanwhile, serial
inade
ictims and were outrages
completely inadecrime as a form of irredeemable
that see violent
released from prison, with
what marks them out is
of release,
who see crime as the outcome
of evil and those
quate supervision and conditions
ad already been convicted
of personal and social factors.
to rape and kill.
system asks 'did free to decide
nt offences.
these men won't
At the moment our justice
There is no guarantee that
eleased manifestly without you do it?' It doesn't ask 'why did you do it?'.
are given offend again.
atterns of offending having
As a consequence the convicted
all were at liberty to decide

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computer geeks
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Colin Knightley, Managing
Director, Dream Doors

Max Colmer, DC Networks
"After being in business for ﬁve years now, we
have found the Informer to be over and above the
best print media for our business.
"The only veriﬁcation we need is when the phone
starts ringing every month on the day distribution
begins. This paper is delivered door to door by
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newspaper for the past 10 months and we
are more than happy with the response
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their services to other companies."

"Keep up the good work guys."

"The Informer remains one of The White
Room's leading forms of newspaper
advertising.
"Whilst professional presentation
and quality content help to attract the
most desired customers, the broad
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products appeal to a very wide demographic.
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Paul,
The White Room

Damian Jamieson, Absolute Health

Padraig Duffy, Managing Director,
Duffy Auctioneers Ltd.

Our advertisers do!
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Informer ad media pack.indd 1

03/11/2009 11:15:26

vegetables) and where possible use skin creams containing antioxidants to combat the effects of free radicals.
Actively dealing with these aggravating factors is essential to
slow the visible signs of skin aging. Based on this Sothys Paris
have brought together the Cosmetic and Pharmaceutical industries
to create a Cosmeceutical anti-ageing treatment called [C]
Collagene Hyaluronique™ IT which will reduce the visible signs
of ageing immediately and for an extended period of time.
An exclusive concept relying on a professional diagnosis made
by Sothys beauty therapists to determine the real age of the customer’s skin. (You may be 40 but could have the skin of a 45 year
old or you could be lucky enough to have the skin of a 35 year old.
The facial is then customized to the age of your skin not yourself.
This professional treatment takes around 75 minutes with proven and long-lasting results (one month and more for 66% of the
people tested) thanks to a new technology cosmeceutical patent
coupled with a flax complex developed by the research team at
Sothys.
Beneficial effects are intensified with a made-to-measure home
care cream and serum to maintain your skin’s youthfulness day
after day.
Linda. Senior Therapist, Rathgar Laser & Beauty Clinic
Tel: 01-4976434 • www.rathgarlaserandbeauty.ie

The Informer

15

Health & Beauty

Beauty Ideas

With Linda Mullen

of Oceana Health & Beauty
Phone: 01-8283901

More dry skin fixes
5 - Baby Your Hands & Feet
Hands and feet can suffer terribly in winter. Put on moisturizer and
gloves BEFORE you head outdoors, and consider lathering up your
feet in thick moisturizer and sleeping in cotton socks at night.
Vaseline on really cracked heels works a treat used daily.
Extra tip: Cover feet in a thick moisturizer, wrap feet in cling film,
then pull on a pair of socks for a couple hours. The same treatment
can be done on hands, except try plastic bags and keep hands in a
pair of socks. A half-hour should do you.
6- Stay Hydrated But Don't Go Overboard
Many people believe if they drink more water, they'll hydrate skin.
But I've read time and time again that this is a myth and you simply
cannot moisturize skin from the inside out.
That said, a small study recently published by the University of
Hamburg (and reported in Allure magazine), suggests people who
drink relatively little water could see a significant benefit in skin
hydration if they started drinking nine eight-ounce glasses of water
per day.
What does this mean? Probably that dehydration does affect skin,
but a normally hydrated person isn't going to see major benefits by

drinking even more water. My advice:
don't expect bottled water to save you from
winter itch.
7- Don't Forget Your Lips
Licking your lips will not moisturize them
and instead will help dry them out. Lips
retain less moisture than other parts of the body, so they tend to dry
out more quickly. A simple lip balm helps, as does my all-time
favorite lip trick: moisturize your lips with Vaseline.
Take a toothbrush and "brush" your lips in a circular motion. This
will remove dead flakes and leave your lips soft and supple. My
favorite – Dermalogica new Lip Balm – has a lip exfloitator built in
that you use when you apply.
8 - Your Face Needs Extra Care in Winter
Cold, winter wind can wreak havoc on skin. To keep your face supple in winter, apply moisturizer to your face before going out into
the cold and cover your face with a scarf in harsh wind.
If you have super, duper sensitive skin, consider avoiding rinsing
your face with tap water, which can contain harsh minerals that are
especially drying to the skin. Ireland has a high level of lime which
dries out the kettle let alone your face!
Instead, do like the French and cleanse skin in winter with a
cleaner that does not require rinsing, like Pond's Cold Cream. You
can also rinse with special water that contains selenium and chamomile.
Extra tip: Its ultra-imporatant to get a facial during this time of

year – facial massage will increase the sebum level and give the face
that ultimate healthy soft glow. Microdermabrasion is my favorite!!!
Try it – on special at Oceans for €85 for the winter season or a Spa
Facial for €65!!!
9 - Consider Fish Oil Pills
New studies show omega-3 fish oil pills may soothe super dry skin.
Patients who took fish oils pills in a study saw significant results
within a few weeks. You can see, within six weeks, the skin, hair and
nails improve.
Ever since I started taking fish oil pills in March, 2007, I have
received numerous compliments on how amazing my skin looks. So
there you have it.
10 - Vitamin E Capsules
In times of extensively dry skin - why not try a vitamin E capsule as
part of your night time treatment. Simply pierce the capsule, apply
the gel like substance on your face and let it soak in overnight.
Vitamin E repairs the skins – that’s it job! This should be done over
a period of two to three weeks, every other night. It's cheap as it has
no fancy packaging and it works!!
For any beauty and product info email me and I will get back to
you on what to do and where to buy!!! No problem too big or too
small!!
For any beauty and product info email linda@oceana-spa.com
and I will get back to you with what to do and where to buy!!!
No problem too big or too small!!

"Paint-on Insulation Cuts Heat Loss,
Condensation and Mould problems"

A

Here’s the best part.

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cottage but there was a north facing wall in the kitchen which we
never got around to doing so we decided to try Thermalite instead.
The difference in the heat that is retained in my kitchen now is very
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that we are ordering more! I can't recommend it enough and it certainly deserves a five star." Trudy Cowx. Co Clare

Thermilate does not require any specialist fitting or modifications
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n Mould patches - a common problem on cold walls

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Thermilate works by reflecting the heat back off walls, ceiling, etc.
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n Thermilate works by reflecting the heat back off walls, ceiling etc
Unlike any other insulation anywhere.

Thermilate Warmcoat is rolled on as part of a normal painting job.
Usually for best effect it is applied in two coats. It is especially powerful when applied to poorly insulated walls or ceilings etc.
Thermilate also has proven to be a great help where you have condensation problems which cause mould. The 'warmer' wall lessens or
eliminates the creation of moisture thereby reducing an environment
for unsightly mould growth.

Herring Fishing in Howth
Office of Public Works, 8th July,
1855.
Sir, With a view to obtaining information on the subject of the channel
herring fishery for our Annual Report,
I proceeded yesterday to the harbour
of Howth, but finding that the fishing
fleet had nearly all departed for the
fishing ground, and that the market
was completely over, I resolved upon
remaining for the night; and at four
o'clock this morning the boats began
to approach the harbour, but were
prevented till near eight from coming
in in large numbers by a very dense
sea fog.
About nine o'clock nearly the
whole fleet of Scotch and English
boats had reached the quay, and it
was rather remarkable that the first
boats which arrived were those that
had been the least successful, many
of them having little more than a
single maize [500] of fish; the report
was, therefore, that the fishing of the
preceding night had been unsuccessful, and the price accordingly opened
high, from 23s. to 28s. per maize of
500; but as the boats arrived, some of
them having from five to eight maize,

The Informer

the prices fell to 20s. and 18s.; these
fluctuations were also caused by telegraphic communications from
Liverpool, announcing the state of
the market.
The number of boats now at Howth
may be set down at 140 Cornish
boats, chiefly from St. Ives, and
twenty Scotch boats, chiefly from
Campbeltown. There were, up to a
few days since, about 100 Manx
boats, but nearly the whole of them
have returned to their own shores,
where there is an abundant herring
fishery at present. The Arklow boats
are also fishing either at home or at
the Isle of Man.
No serious outrage of any kind has

been attempted since the destruction
of nets in 1852; and the strangers are
most grateful for the efforts made by
the Board to obtain redress for them
on that occasion, and most confident
of security and protection.
The fishers and buyers complain
greatly of the absence of some regulations for the preservation of order
among the multitude of boats and
people that are often assembled; and
still more of the absence of any summary jurisdiction for enforcing regulations and settling disputes between
the boatmen themselves, and between
them and the purchasers; and have
agreed upon a memorial to the Lord
Lieutenant upon the subject, which,

doubtless, will come before the Board
in due time.
Never in my life did I enjoy a
higher gratification in connexion
with our duties than the scene of this
morning afforded to me. The take
was above an average, the quantity
having exceeded 800 maize. Before I
left Howth, by the 12.30 train, nearly
every boat was cleared, and most of
them were taking their departure for
the fishing ground. The smacks were
loaded for the Liverpool market; the
trucks of the train were nearly all full,
and numerous spring-carts and other
vehicles were on their way for
Dublin; not less than 2,000 people
could have been assembled, and there
was but one trifling dispute, which 1
readily settled.

Picture: "The Fishing Fleet, Howth."
A Valentine's Series postcard dating
from around 1905.

This page was researched with the help of

The Bad Old Days

Shanghaied in Dublin

Mr. C---, of Beresford-street, cabinet maker:
About four weeks earlier he had spent an evening in
St. Mark's parish, at a house where he had been kept
to a late hour, he thinks between one and two in the
morning: as he passed along one of the lanes leading from Fleet-street to Aston's-quay, he was accosted first by one, and afterwards for four other men,
in sailor's clothes, whose words and manners were,
in the first instance, tolerably courteous, but on a
sudden they seized him, put a handkerchief on his
face, and threatened murder in case of noise or
resistance, and dragged him to the water side, to a
boat they seemed to have ready for the purpose, into
which they forced him, having previously emptied
his pockets of their contents, being eight guineas
and a half.
They then rowed down the river, and boarded a
small vessel, in the hold of which they put him,
after securing his arms and legs with ropes. In this
dismal place he found eight or nine men in the same
plight, who had been kidnapped in the same manner.
Some days after this the vessel, whose description
or destination Mr. C--- was never permitted to learn,
set sail; the next day, he thinks March 21st or 22nd,
there was a furious storm that drove the vessel onto
rocks that made her destruction inevitable. The captives were freed by the crew as the vessel began to
fall apart. Mr. C--- and three others made it to the
shore on a piece of wreckage. He found himself in
Cardigan Bay, and from there made his way home.
(Anthologia Hibernica, April 4, 1793.)

The Informer

17

All About Dublin

First hand History

The Rev. Thomas Campbell, author of 'A
Philosophical Survey of the South of Ireland' (published in Dublin in 1778), found much to criticise
while travelling through the city. He also found
beauty in a surprising area ...
"Upon the whole, Dublin is no contemptible city ...
it must, however, be acknowledged, that except the
new streets, which are paved and
flagged like those of London, it is
abominably dirty.
"I, cannot describe to you how
much I was hurt by the nastiness
of these streets, and by the squalid
appearance of the canaille (the
riff-raff). The vast inferiority of
the lower ranks in Dublin, compared even with those of the country towns in England, is very striking. Seldom do they shave, and
when they do, it is but to unmask
the traces of meagreness and penury.
"In a morning, before the higher
classes are up, you would imagine that half the prisons in Europe had been opened, and their contents
emptied into this place. What must it have been then,
even within three years, when near 2,000 wretches,
much worse, of course, than any now to be seen,
exercised the unrestrained trade of begging? I am
told that the nuisance was risen to such a pitch, that
you could scarcely get clear of any shop you entered,
without the contamination of either ulcers or vermin,
from the crowd of mendicants, who beset the door.

"Here, to be sure, you meet some splendid equipages, and a large suite of lackeys after a sedan
chair; you see a fair range, or two, of houses, and
some rich shops; but all these scarcely compensate
for the painful sensations produced by the general
mass.
"Yesterday I went down the North Strand, catching the sea-breezes as I rode along. Summerhill, the
suburb leading to it affords one of
the most charming prospects in the
world. Before you, is the sea, covered with ships; on the left of the
bay, is a country beautifully varied;
to the right, the conical mountains
of Wicklow terminate your view.
The river Liffey, and part of the,
city compose the fore-ground of
this exquisite piece. , . .
"Summerhill, as well for the
beauty of the situation, as purity of
the air, is become the residence of
several persons of fortune. I was
led to it a few days since, to see one
of the most pleasing collections of
pictures, I have almost any where observed; and you
will be the more surprised when I tell you, that they
are all copies, but they are copies of a very peculiar
sort.
"One of them taken from the Galatea of Raphael,
they now consider as an original; the original being
almost defaced. They were the property of a Mr.
Moore, who, during a long residence at Rome, had
them painted by Albano, and others, the best artists
in that imperial city.

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SpRiNg Special

18

Dublin GAA

Dublin retain Leinster
U21 football title

Easter Sunday was a good day for the Dublin Under 21
footballers’ as they retained their Leinster crown against
Westmeath in Parnell Park. Westmeath arrived in Dublin
headquarters having impressed in the lead up to the final
beating Kildare, Meat and Laois on the way. Dublin on the
other hand needed extra time in both their games against
Louth and Carlow to progress.
On a sunny but windy day, Dublin played with the wind
in the first half and immediately set down a marker. Dean
Rock was clinical with any Westmeath indiscretions knocking over four frees. Dublin took a six point lead into the
break 0-9 to 0-3.
Much had been talked about Westmeath’s midfielder, the
17 year old John Heslin before the game but the young
Mullingar man was well marshalled in the first period however with Westmeath needing all his skills he began to
dominate second half proceedings. The midlanders quickly
ate into Dublin’s six point lead and with a minute of normal
time left there was only a point between the sides, Dublin
leading 0-10 to 0-9.
Dublin counter attacked as Westmeath went to level matters, moving the ball swiftly forward to Ciaran Dorney who
shot to the Westmeath net from close range. Dublin tagged

on two more points in added time to win back to back titles
on a scoreline of 1-12 to 0-9. The six point win probably
flatters Dublin but the work will have commenced already
towards defeating Roscommon in the All-Ireland semi –final
on April 18th.

The Camogie Association have honoured former Dublin player Kathleen
Mills by naming the All-Ireland Junior
Championship trophy after her.
Kathleen was arguably the greatest
player to play camogie. In a twenty
year plus inter-county career she won
fifteen All-Ireland senior medals. She
won her first medal in 1942 and her
last in 1961. She had the honour of
captaining Dublin for their 1958 success.
A supreme athlete, she perfected the
art of the long range goal. She had
incredible fast wrists and could take
scores from almost any angle. Her
skills were so good that she was talked
of in similar ways to hurling greats
Christy Ring and Mick Mackey.

She played on the winning Leinster
team as part of the inter provincial
Camogie Golden Jubilee celebrations
in 1954. In 2004, she was named on
the Camogie team of the century alongside former team mates Eileen Duffy
and Sophie Brack.
Ironically, Dublin won the AllIreland Junior title in 2005 for the first
time in 30 years and although we
would love to see a senior title coming
to the capital again, it would be a special occasion should a Dublin captain
lift the Kathleen Mills Cup.
For all the best in Dublin GAA
action, tune into GAA Sportsdesk
every Wednesday 7-8pm
on 103.2 Dublin City fm.

John and Barry landed themselves a job at
a sawmill. Just before morning tea Barry
yelled: "John! I lost me finger!"
"Have you now?" says John. "And how
did you do it?" "I just touched this big spinning thing here like this...Damn! There
goes another one!"

Lost in Dublin

A Swiss man, on holiday in Dublin, needed
directions. He was standing outside Brown
Thomas on Grafton Street and he saw two
local lads walking by so he stops them and
asks: 'Entschuldigung, koennen Sie Deutsch
sprechen?'
The two lads look at each other blankly and
stare back at him. 'Excusez-moi, parlez
vous FranĂ§ais ?' he tries. The two continue
to stare. 'Parlare Italiano?' Still absolutely
no response from the two lads.
'Hablan ustedes Espanol?' The local lads
remain totally silent. The Swiss guy walks
off extremely disappointed and downhearted that he had not been understood.
One of the lads turns to the second and
says, 'Jeasus Y'know, maybe we should
learn a foreign language!'
'Why?' says the youth, 'That fella knew
four languages, and it didn't do him any
good!

Is he Catholic?

Padraic lived alone in the beautiful Kildare
countryside with only a pet dog for company. One day the dog died, and Padraic
went to the parish priest and asked: "Father,

me dog is dead. Could ya' be saying' a mass
for the poor creature?"
Father Patrick replied: "I'm afraid not; we
cannot have services for an animal in the
church. But there are some Baptists down
the lane, and there's no tellin' what they
believe. Maybe they'll do something for the
creature."
Padraic said: "I'll go right away Father.
Do ya' think â&#x201A;Ź5,000 is enough to donate to
them for the service?" Father Patrick
exclaimed: "Sweet Mary and Joseph. Why
didn't ya tell me the dog was Catholic?"

Bank Robbery

First thing one Monday morning, a robber
broke into the bank, and pointed his guns at
the cashier said, 'Give me all your money,
or you'll be geography!'
The cashier laughed and said, 'You mean
to say 'history.'
The robber answered, 'Don't change the
subject.'

Best Pubs In Ireland

John, Jimmy and Pat are sitting in a pub full
of people. Pat says, "The pubs in Cork are the
best. You can buy one drink and get a second
one free".
Everyone in the pub agreed and gave a big
cheer. Jimmy says,"..yeah. That's quite good
but in Galway you can buy one drink and get
another 2 for free."
Again, the crowd in the pub gave a big
cheer. Then Pat says "Your two pubs are good,
but they are not as good as the ones in Mayo.
In Ballina you can buy one pint, get another 3
for free and then get taken into the backroom

Sudoku

Irish Husband

A young lad from Santry came home from
school and told his mother he had been
given a part in the school play. 'Wonderful,
'replies his mother, 'what part is it?'
The boy says, 'I play the part of the Irish
husband.'
The mother scowls and says, 'Go back
and tell your teacher you want a speaking
part.'
Two middle aged ladies from Foxrock are
browsing around Brown Thomas. One says:
"You know, I'm having an affair."
And the other responds: "Really? Who's
doing the catering?

Yea. At least
Ipswitch weren't
relegated.

Solution next issue.

6
7
8 9
1
4
6 1 2
8 3
5 2
4

to be made love to". John and Jimmy gasp and
says "WOW! Did that happen to you?" and
the Pat replies "No, but it happened to my
sister."

I'm Having an Affair

But that
wasn't that a
long time ago?

9
6 4
3 4
2 8 7
9
8
6 9
3
2

Scribble Box

Padraig to the Rescue

The Pope comes in one day and says to his
cardinals: "It seems the Jews have challenged
us to golf."
The cardinals protest that they're no good at
golf, and say: "Why don't we ask Padraig
Harrington to become an honorary cardinal,
then he can play for the Vatican?"
So Padraig Harrington goes out and plays
the game, and comes back with his head in his
hands.
"What's wrong?" the Pope asked. "Well, it
was OK at the start," said Padraic. "But did
you ever hear of Rabbi Tiger Woods?"

Solutions
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20

The End

Dubliner aiming to wheelie clean up
Ever wondered what to do about those
wheelie bins taking away the fine vista of
the front of your house? Castleknock man
Robert Murphy just might have the solution for you.
'Bruscar' is the name he gave to his new
business idea where he makes wooden
panels or 'chests' to hide wheelie bins left
outside the front of houses. The idea is
particularly useful if there is no access to
the back of your house to store the bins
but would also suit small apartment blocks
or shared access areas. It's sure to go down
well with those who think wheelie bins a

unsightly addition to the urban clutter.
Robert says that he got the idea from his
own experience and after suffering a bout
of unemployment in the great depression
of 2009, he decided to go for it and start
his own business to manufacture the panels. He also completed a back to work
enterprise scheme which has helped him
with the business side of getting started
out on his own.
Bruscar's website (www.bruscar.ie)
gives a comprehensive gallery of pictures
of all the panels and chests available with
pricing and delivery options.

l Those two wheelie bins look much nicer now!

The Informer

The Informer Poll

Yes

no

Should pubs
and restaurants
be allowed to
serve alcohol
on Good
Friday?

If Pope
Benedict XVI
were to visit
Ireland this
year, would
you turn out
to see him?

Dublin Total

Dublin Total

7%

93%

Santry

Santry

5%

95%

Lucan

5%

95%
Blanchardstown

Raheny

10%

Swords

20%

45%

55%

Rathmines

Rathmines

5%

95%

60%

40%

Rathfarnham

Rathfarnham

5%

95%
Dún Laoghaire

20%

80%

Dún Laoghaire

5%

35%

65%

Dundrum

Dundrum

10%

25%

75%

Sandyford

95%

20%

80%

Swords

90%

60%

40%

Raheny

95%

55%

45%

Blanchardstown

5%

95%

80%

35%

65%

Lucan

90%

41%

59%

Sandyford

5%

45%

55%

Survey carried out on Wednesday 7th & 8th April 2010. This is a “door step” survey. Total number of people interviewed is
200 with 20 residents being interviewed in their homes in each of the areas shown by The NRBI on behalf of Informer
Newspapers. Results published do not reflect the views or the opinions of the Informer Newspapers or any of its employees.

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